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The Cowboy and the Lady Derby 1990 Ch. F. The Stallion Bunkhouse The Horse

Colors of the Rainbow by Katie S. Bored? Beecher Island Home on the Range Cowboys

Cowboy College The Roundup The Test Goin Home

Wanted: Native American Cowboy Poets, Singers, and Musicians

The Stable Companion National Library of Poetry Poetry Pages Cochise Poets Rudy Gonzales

Other Good Sites

Remuda Ranch Horse Links Agricomm Thoroughbreds

This is something that I've wanted to get going for some time. The Cowboy Poetry gathering in Elko, Nevada is the inspiration for this page. I've got several poems of my own and will be adding them as time permits. My favorite poem is one I wrote following the death of one of our newborn foals. I'm sure that some of you cowboys and cowgirls out there have some poems you would like to share. If you need to get in the mood to write Cowboy poetry, Remuda Ranch can set you up with your very own APHA Paint horse. You trim some feet, worm a few critters that need a attitude adjustment to begin with, breed your mares to your stud who likes to come out of the barn on his hind feet, pull some foals that'll look for ever way in the world to git theirselves kilt, get yerself throwed a few times, get a little sand in yer craw, sweat in yer eye, and hay in yer coller.... then see if'n you don't wax poetic about the Cowboy way!

Just kidding about our Remuda Ranch horses; they're actually so gentle your grandmother could rope off of 'em indoors or out with just a piece of baler twine for bridle and reins--no spurs needed!

The Cowboy and the English Lady....in which the Lady (BBC correspondent) wishes to know what in tarnation a Cowboy is doin' ritin' poetry on the internet!

This is the Cowboy's reply to her questions

Well, Mam: I ain't really a poet....so I don't know if I am qualified to say much about poetry. At least I ain't a poet in the sense that I make any money off of it....I make a little money running some ol' rangy lookin' Paints and Quarter horses so I guess you could call me more of a cowboy than poet though some real hands would say them two is runnin' about even! I worried about copyright a little but didn't see much of a future in my poetry anyways so I went ahead and put it on my web site. Others must fret over that considerable though because no one else has sent me any poetry to put on there. I get a lot of accesses on that poetry page (more than on some of my horse pages) so I guess there's more of the literati out there than the lariati (jus' a little cowboy humor there, if you don't care!) I been writin' poetry for nigh on to 20 years, I guess, and never got too many compliments til I put that stuff on my web page so there's some satisfaction in makin' people think or makin' 'em a little sad or makin' 'em see through the eyes of a horse. Well, I got to go. They're puttin' up some hay and need my help. Adios Rod Smothers

Wanted: A few good Native American Cowboy Poets, Singers, and Musicians for the Calgary Cowboy Festival!

Our web site: www.aboriginalnet.com You can find aboriginal tourism and a list of Indian rodeo and Indian festivals that highlight the Cowboy festival. POBox 1240 Stn M Calgary AB T2P 2L2 tel 403 261-3022 fax 403 261-5676 Edmund Oliverio president

The Osage Observer (quarterly magazine about Osage County, Okla.) will sponsor a cowboy/Indian poetry gathering the first weekend in April 1998. (The March issue will publish poetry from any and all who wish to contribute.) I would like to visit other gatherings but only know one or two dates. Can you help? The "theme" for the issue/gathering is Prairie Praise, but any Western poetry is welcome. Osage County is Oklahoma's largest, the home of the Osage Nation, late actor-cowboy Ben Johnson, the Tall Chief ballerinas and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, a Nature Conservancy project. I am planning readings/recitations Thursday-Sunday with musical entertainment Friday and Saturday nights -- dances. I am seeking poets and performers -- cowboy and Indian -- plus artists, artisans and attractions. Contact me for more info.

Gary Jack Willis
Editor-Publisher
The Osage Observer
P.O. Box 687
Pawhuska, Okla. 74056

E-mail: GJW5225@aol.com

Other Cowboy Poetry Pages!

The Lazy Barn

Manure Happens

Kidwell Cowboy Poetry

Dust and Barbwire

Cowboy Poetry On-line

Some of these dates are old...I'll update them if someone will contact me with the correct 1998 dates. I'll leave the old dates for now in hopes that these gatherings will be held at about the same time every year--Rod Smothers

Some gatherings are held rather frequently so I'll post those here by location:

2ND SATURDAY, EACH MONTH AMARILLO, TEXAS COWBOY POET BREAKFAST - BIG TEXAN RESTURANT featuring Rusty Nichols. Call 806-381-2572.

January
========
DEC. 19-20
ANSON, TEXAS LARRY CHITTENDEN COWBOY CELEBRATION
ANSON OPERA HOUSE -- COWBOY ENTERTAINERS, BIT AND SPURS
915.823.3259    

DEC. 28, 1997-JAN 5, 1998
PHOENIX, ARIZONA COWBOY CLASSIC 
AND ARIZONA LIVESTOCK SHOW
COWBOY  MUSIC AND POETRY 602.258.8568                                      


JAN 15-18 1998
ARVADA, COLORADO 9TH ANNUAL 
COLORADO COWBOY POETRY GATHERING
303.431.3062

JAN 23-24, 1998
YERINGTON, NEVADA COWBOY JAM LOCAL COWBOY POETS,
STORYTELLERS AND WESTERNLORE 702.463.2245

JAN 24-31
ELKO, NEVADA    14TH ANNUAL COLORADO COWBOY POETRY GATHERING
WESTERN FOLKLIFE CENTER
888.880.5885                 www.westfolk.org



The Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering Rounds 'Em Up January 9 - 12,
1997

For the eighth year in a row the Arvada Center will be swarming with
cowboys and ranchers for four days during the annual Colorado
Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where they'll share their experiences in song
and verse. "We're just as excited as can be," says Liz Masterson, who
coordinates the Gathering with Mary Ann Patterson. "And this year we
have some new treats in store. I'll tell ya, we're really excited about 
three guys named Chuck, Buck and Slim."
Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathring
Thursday through Sunday, January 9-12. Daytime sessions Friday and
Saturday from 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., $5 per day. Evening and matinee
performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 1:00
p.m., $13 each.  More information call (303) 431-3939



Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Western Folklife Center
P. O. Box 888
501 Railroad St.
Elko, NV  89801
(702) 738-7508

Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, CO  80003
(303) 431-3080

February
========



FEB 6-8 1998
 CALGARY CANADA  CANADA'S COWBOY FESTIVAL
COWBOY ENTERTAINERS TRADE & GEAR SHOW
 CALGARY CONVENTION CENTER 403.261.8536

FEB 6-8 1998
SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA 6TH ANNUAL COCHISE COUNTY POETRY
 & MUSIC GATHERING 502.458.3551 502.459.3868

FEB 12-15
SHERIDAN, WYOMING 
6TH ANNUAL SABEBRUSH COWBOYOGRAPHY GATHERING
SHERIDAN INN AND TRADE SHOW
307.684.7480

FEB27-MARCH 1
ALPINE, TEXAS      12TH ANNUAL TEXAS COWBOY POETRY GATHERING
SUL ROSS UNIVERSITY                               GEAR AND ART
SHOW(JURIED)
915.837.8191


February 15
Public Performance by Ben McKenzie, Sharon Glenn and Friends
Toppenish Livestock Sale Barn
428 South G Street
Toppenish, WA
Contact: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce
509-865-3262
Thanks,
Hilma (Volcano) Volk






Also coming up...
Canada's Cowboy Festival, Calgary, Alberta, (old date...need some help!).
For more information, please call the Calgary Convention Centre 
at (403) 261-8500. This will be the second annual, and since in February
most everyone around here is hunkered around the fireplace waiting for
the cows to calve, most all the poets show up. It's a good time.

The Alberta Gatherings are always held on the following weekends; Pincher 
Creek, Father's Day weekend in June, Stony Plain, third weekend in August, 
Canada's Cowboy Festival, first weekend in February. They try to keep it 
simple. Complicated just confuses the poets for some reason, go figure. 



We have some great ones coming up!
STONY PLAIN GATHERING
Stony Plain, Alberta (west of Edmonton)
August 18-20, 1995
Call Frank at (403) 963-4600 
Always held third weekend in August.

CANADA'S COWBOY FESTIVAL
Calgary, Alberta
First weekend in February.
February 2-5, 1996
Contact Darrell Komick at (403) 261-8500.

Tell 'em "ol' Stapleguts" sent ya!



The 4th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering will be in 
Sierra Vista Arizona, February 2-4, 1996. Friday and Saturday will be 
two all-star programs.  Saturday, there will be theme and open 
sessions from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M.   The artists currently committed 
are Peggy Godfrey and Maggie Mae Sharp, both of Colorado, Desert Sons 
of Tucson, Duke Davis of Albuquerque, Darrel Patten of South Dakota, 
Bob Bird of New Mexico, and several others.
     
Questions can be directed to:
 
     
Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering
POB 3201
Sierra Vista AZ 85636-3201
     
or by calling John Shaver at 520 458 3551.
(520 is a new area code. If it doesn't work, try 602 instead.)  
Thanks!
     

March
=====

MARCH 14, 1998
CARSON CITY, NEVADA COWBOY JUBILEE & POETRY
DON EDWARDS, WADDIE MITCHELL 
AND THE SONS OF THE SAN JUAQUIN, 
SOURDOUGH &SPECIAL LOCAL POETS  702.883.1532

MARCH 19-22, 1998
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE WEST
COWBOY ENTERTAINERS CELEBRITIES
 TRADE SHOW WESTERN ART CHUCKWAGON COOKOFF
www.festivalofthewest.com
602.996.4687
                                   
MARCH 27-29, 1998
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA    
5TH ANNUAL COWBOY POETRY GATHERING & MUSIC FESTIVAL
ALSO GEAR SHOW SWING DANCE
CHUCKWAGON COOKING    OTHER EVENTS
www.santa-clarita, com
802.255.4910


The 3rd Annual "Cowboy Culture - Music and Epherema of the American West"
will take place on March 29, 30, and 31 at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden,
NV. Performing will be Andy Wilkinson, Ray Reed, and Kay Hansen. 
Feature show Friday night ($15), dinner show Saturday night ($30), 
and Matinee on Sunday ($10). For more info: Jeanne Sandy, Carson Valley Inn,
800-321-6983, ext.625. E-mail: cvisales@aol.com.

Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
P. O. Box 395
Alpine, TX  79831
(915) 857-8191

Natoinal Festival of the West
Box 12966
Scottsdale, AZ  85267-2966
(602) 996-4387

Omak Cowboy Poetry Jubilee
1997 Date March 15, 1997
Omak Stampede, Inc.
P. O. Box 2028
Omak, WA 98841
(800) 933-6625 or (509) 826-1002


April
=====

April 12 & 13, 1997 California Days: A California Gear and Western Art Show. Amador County Fairgrounds, Plymouth, California. The first event of its kind
in Northern California. Over twenty of the West's Best Gear makers (bit
makers, spur makers, boot makers, saddle makers, rawhide braiders, furniture
builders, and more) and artists gather for a unique two day show. A great
opportunity to see great one-of-a-kind gear, tack and art. Contact Jennifer
Mashburn (916) 687-6564, email at alwzhorsn@aol.com.


Visalia Spring Roundup
35664 Rd. 112
Visalia, CA  93291
(209) 627-0287

Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Museum of Western Colorado
Box 20000-5020
Grand Junction, CO  81502-5020
(303) 434-9814 or (303) 243-7711

Oklahoma Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Nationa Cowboy Hall of Fame
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 478-2250

May
===

To better accomodate the crowds, The Idaho State Cowboy poetry Gathering 
has moved to the capitol city.  The 1997 event will be Idaho's 10th 
annual Gathering and it will take place in Boise, Idaho May 8-11.  There 
is at todays notice of 2/28/97, still opportunity for cowgirl/cowboy 
poets, and singers to apply.  

Those interested will need to rush a sample of their work on cassette or 
vhs tape along with a short bio and photo to the Idaho Cowboy Poetry 
Gathering P.O. Box 326, Eagle,Idaho 83616-0326.  They can find forms at 
http://www.cyberhighway.net/~rudy/icpg1.htm  
or they can call 208-888-9838 for more information.

Remeber this is one of the main gatherings that still feature real 
working cowboys and cowgirls as their feature performers.  We hope you 
all can make it.

Rudy Gonzales
Founder/Director


10th Annual Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Medora, North Dakota   May 25-26, 1996

The oldest "Regional Cowboy Peotry Gathering" in existence will feature
a 10 yr. summary of the "Real Hands" in a beautiful Civic Center in the 
old cowtown of Medora, also headgate to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park,
and Home of the famous "Medora Musical" in amphitheater atmostphere.

Contact:  Bill Lowman, R.R. 1, Box 25
          Sentinel Butte, ND   58654
	  PH: (701)_872-4746


Cowboy Symposium & Celebration
Ranching Heritage Association
Box 43201
Lubbock, TX  79409
(806) 742-2498

June
====

Alberta Cowboy Gathering
Box 2392
Pincher Creek, Alberta
TOK 1W0 Canada
(403) 627-4733

Cannonball Cowboy Poetry Gathering
P.O. Box 536
Mariposa, CA  95338
(209) 742-6064

July
====

New Mexico Poets' Gathering
Silver City Museum
312 W. Broadwy.
Silver City, NM  88061

Cowboy Poetry and Music Jamboree
Steamboat Springs Ski and Resort Corp.
2205 Mt. Werner Cir.
Steamboat Springs, CO  80487
(303) 879-6111 x470

August
======
Some more Alberta Cowboy Poetry Gatherings are:
"The Northern Alberta Cowboy Poetry and 
Western Art Festival" August 15 - 18, 1996. Stony Plain is in the heart of 
Northern Alberta ranching and farming country, a half hour west of 
Alberta's capital city of Edmonton. This is Stony's 4rd Annual gathering. 
For more information on the gathering, cowboy church service, art stalls, etc, 
phone Frank Cantafio at (403) 963-4600.

Silver City New Mexico is having a poetry gathering 25-27 August.  
Don't have a lot of details.  Silver City is in West Southwest New 
Mexico about 6000 feet high.  Home of Billy the Kid and other interesting 
varmints too colorful to include at this time.
     
Great Pikes Peak Cowboy Poetry Gathering
5550 N. Union Blvd.
P.O. Box 1579
Colorado Springs, CO  80901
(719) 531-6333

Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering
P.O. Box 818
Lewistown, MT  58457
(406) 538-5436


Arizona Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Sharlot Hall Museum 415 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ  86301
(602) 445-3122


September
========

Rogue River Roundup Cowboy Poetry-Music-Art/Gear Event
September 19-22, Ashland-Medford Or. PO Box 3227, Ashland, OR 97520
541-773-4817. This years list of performers are Riders in the Sky,
Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Sons of the San Joaquin, R W Hampton,
Randy Rieman, Jesse Smith, Gwen Petersen, Kay Hansen, Sourdough Slim,
Paul Zarzyski, Jim Ross, Charley Hendren, Rich O'Brian, Lorraine Rawls
& Cowboy Jack and the Rogue Valley Wranglers.

Thank you kindly. Also we would be happy to list your event(s) in our 
program.   Gary Brown, President, Rogue River Roundup Board of Directors
gary@ashland.or.us

September 13-15, 1996. Gila Valley Cowboy Poet Roundup-3rd Annual. Held each
year in beautiful Safford, Arizona, this poet gathering is fast becoming one
of the finest Arizona has to offer. This year's theme is "Colors of the
Cowboy World" and will feature one of the best poets in the west, Red
Steagall. Other poets scheduled to attend are Skelly Boyd, Shad Pease,
Maggie Mae Sharp, and Peggy Godfrey. In addition to all the poetry, The
Desert Sons will perform old-time country music. This event is produced by
The Gila Valley Arts Council, P.O. Box 1022, Safford, Az. 85548. For more
information, send e-mail to: Kokopeli@zekes.com"

The 10th Annual Idaho State Cowboy Poetry Gathering will take place
September 13,14, & 15th of 1996.  It will be held again at the Nampa
Civic Center in Nampa, Idaho.  This is one of the nations authentic
cowboy gatherings.  This gathering has always featured real working
cowboys and cowgirls as the main attraction.  We will never allow the
profesional country western entertainers to overshadow the real cowboy
in this gathering.  For information to apply to perform or ticket
information, please call(208) 888-9838. or write The Idaho State Cowboy
Poetry Gathering @ P.O. Box 326, Eagle, Idaho 83616-0326.

We have a cowboy poetry, music, etc. gathering coming up in
nearby Medford, OR.  It's called the Rogue River Roundup and will be
held Sept. 22-24.
Keep up the great work!  We enjoy your site.

Reeve Hennion
"The Mayor of Buncom"
3232 Little Applegate Road
Jacksonville, OR 97530


O'Keefe Ranch Cowby Festival
Box 955
Vernon, BC  VIT 6M8
Canada
(604) 542-3168

Curly Fletcher Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival
High Horse Productions
475 Church St.
Bishop, CA  93514
(619) 873-8403 or (619) 872-1596

The Idaho Cowboy Poetry Gathering takes place at the Nampa Civic Center
in Nampa, Idaho,  The contact phone number is (208)888-9838. Mail
can be sent to PO Box 326, Eagle, ID  83616-0326.  The dates will be in
August of 1996

October
======

Lincoln County Cowby Symposium
Museum of the Horse
P. O. Box 40
Ruidoso Downs, NM  8346
(505) 378-4142

Red Steagall Cowboy Gathring nad Western Swing Festival
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
500 Jones St.
Fort Worth, TX  76102-5484
(817) 884-1945

Wyoming Cowboy Poetry Roundup
Central Wyoming College
2660 Peck Ave.
Riverton, WY  82501
(307) 856-7184

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering
P.O.Box 2571
Durango, CO  81302
(303) 259-1388

The second Cowboy Gathering will be held in Groton, MA October 14, 1995.
 Featuring Rod McQueary, Elizabeth Ebert, Jesse Smith, Gary McMahan, Paul
Zarzyski, and Buck Ramsey--an all star cast.  

Contact Don Spigarelli (donspig@aol.com) for information.


November
=======

Western Poetry Writers Party and Reading Celebration
Moab, UT
(801) 259-7814

December
========

Rodeo Cowboy Poetry Gathering
	(Held in Las Vegas during NFR)
Western Folklife Center
P.O. Box 888
Elko, NV  89801
(702) 738-7508

Colors of the Rainbow

© 1997 Kathryn Malisa Smothers All rights reserved
	

Red are the roses within the garden
Orange are the pumpkins ready to be carved
Yellow is the sun going behind a cloud
Green are the freshly fertilized plants
Blue is the ocean stretching far and wide
Indigo are the midnight storms
Violet is the sky just before dark.

Derby

© 1995 Rod Smothers All rights reserved	

This one's in progress.  I put it here so you can see its evolution.

They explode
from the gate
like a flight of arrows
propelled by straining muscle.
They flash past
in a pointilist mirage
of silk and airborne dirt. 

Their world defined
by spaces timed
and rushing wind
and intent men, 


More later!

1990 Ch. F.

© 1995 Rod Smothers All rights reserved

The Stallion

© 1995 Rod Smothers All rights reserved

Bunkhouse

© 1995 Rod Smothers All rights reserved

The Horse

© 1995 Rod Smothers All rights reserved

He is dark and wet
Bowed and flexed
Piston cannons pound the ground.
Muscle breathes living beneath his skin
Quivering at the spur's mistaken superiority

A vessel for speed,
He contains the speed but barely
Driven blood flows to the biological
Hydraulics of gaskin, stifle, and hock

Blood willed to generations unknown
Coveted, purchased, traded and sold
It is fluid, and elusive
Bestowing its gifts at random

The speed flows in the blood
Racing with the heart
Racing death on the plain
Racing into subservience

His body an engine
A machine for winning
Refined and redesigned
Until the structure
Can no longer support the obsession

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Send e-mail to:cowbopo@agricomm.com